1. A method, comprising:
recognizing finger detection data in a detection data map produced by a touch screen, wherein the data are arranged in an (x, y, z) space associating a node having coordinates (x, y) in the data map and a detection intensity value z, the recognizing including,
converting the data from the (x, y, z) space into a three-descriptor space having three coordinates including,
a first coordinate representative of the number of intensity peaks in the map,
a second coordinate representative of the number of nodes absorbed under the intensity peaks, and
a third coordinate selected as either,
an angular coefficient of an approximating line passing through points representative of the numbers of nodes absorbed under the intensity peaks ordered in decreasing order, and
an adjacency value representative of the extent the intensity peaks are adjacent to one another.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the third coordinate as the angular coefficient, and at least one of:
selecting the second coordinate as the maximum of the numbers of nodes absorbed under the intensity peaks,
singling out, in the data converted from the (x, y, z) space into the three-descriptor space, finger data with respect to non-finger data over the whole of the touch screen.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the angular coefficient comprises:
ordering the number of nodes absorbed under the intensity peaks as an ordered decreasing series,
approximating the ordered decreasing series with a piecewise-linear approximating function including a plurality of linear portions having respective angular coefficients, and
determining the angular coefficient as the average value of the respective angular coefficients.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the third coordinate as the adjacency value representative of the extent the intensity peaks are adjacent to one another, and at least one of:
selecting the second coordinate as either of the number of nodes absorbed under an isolated intensity peak or the sum of the numbers of nodes absorbed under a plurality of adjacent intensity peaks,
singling out, in the data converted from the (x, y, z) space into the three-descriptor space, finger data produced over a portion of the touch screen with respect to non-finger data produced over another portion of the touch screen.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising distinguishing, in the data converted from the (x, y, z) space into the three-descriptor space:
simple objects having a first coordinate representative of a single intensity peak and a third coordinate representative of the absence of adjacent peaks, and
composed objects having a first coordinate representative of plural intensity peaks and a third coordinate representative the presence of adjacent peaks.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining the third coordinate by:
identifying for the intensity peaks in the detection data map respective sets of nodes absorbed thereunder, whereby each intensity peak and the respective set of absorbed nodes forms a blob,
locating adjacent nodes between the blobs thus formed,
determining adjacency values for the blobs as a function of the number of adjacent nodes thus located.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising at least one of:
setting to zero the adjacency value for an isolated blob having no adjacent nodes with other blobs,
setting the adjacency value for a plurality of adjacent blobs as the sum of the numbers of adjacent nodes in the adjacent blobs.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
converting from the (x, y, z) space into the three-descriptor space a detection data map produced by a touch screen; and
subjecting the detection data map converted from the (x, y, z) space into the three-descriptor space to a likelihood test with a plurality of test models including models of finger detection data to be recognized as produced in a training phase including conversion from the (x, y, z) space into the three-descriptor space.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the training phase includes obtaining the test models via fitting through a Gaussian Mixture fitting to model data maps.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein, in the training phase, the fitting follows conversion from the (x, y, z) space into the three-descriptor space.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the likelihood test comprises a Log-Likelihood test.
12. The method of any of claim 11, wherein the likelihood test comprises:
a plurality of individual tests each resulting in a respective likelihood value with a respective one of the test models;
a maximum likelihood check of the likelihood values resulting from the plurality of individual tests for identifying the one of the individual tests yielding the maximum likelihood value, whereby the test model producing the maximum likelihood value is held to be representative of the data in the detection data map produced by the touch screen.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A wand having a housing, wherein the wand is coupled to an intra-oral imaging system, the wand comprising:
a first device coupled to the housing, wherein the first device is an intra-oral imaging device for capturing images of a patient’s teeth; and
a second device coupled to the housing to provide an additional function.
2. The wand of claim 1, wherein the second device is a second camera for capturing images of the patient’s face.
3. The wand of claim 1, wherein the second device is a light emitting diode (LED) curing light for hardening sealants.
4. The wand of claim 3, wherein the LED curing light is positioned to emit light through a tip of wand, wherein a curing light control is positioned on a handle of the wand, and wherein the curing light control controls operation of the LED curing light.
5. The wand of claim 1, wherein the second device is a microphone for capturing oral instructions of a patient or a dental practitioner.
6. The wand of claim 1, wherein the second device is an ultrasound device to capture ultrasound imagery of the patient’s oral cavity.
7. The wand of claim 1, wherein the second device is a laser emitter device that generates photoacoustic waves greater than 1200 nanometers in wavelength to turbulently clean interiors of root and lateral canal systems or cause cell lysis and dissolution of inorganics in biotic systems.
8. The wand of claim 1, wherein the second device is a high-energy light emitting device for detecting caries.
9. The wand of claim 1, wherein the intra-oral imaging device is a first camera, and the second device is a second camera for capturing images of the patient’s face, the wand further comprising:
a tip, wherein the first camera for capturing the images of the patient’s teeth is positioned to image through the tip; and
a handle for holding the wand, wherein the second camera for capturing the images of the patient’s face is positioned on the handle.
10. The wand of claim 9, the wand further comprising:
a camera control positioned on the handle, wherein the camera control controls operation of the second camera.
11. The wand of claim 10, wherein the second camera is a least one of a still camera and a video camera.
12. The wand of claim 9, wherein the wand is positioned to capture a sequence of images of a patient’s face, wherein the sequence of images are processed to generate a two-dimensional image of the patient’s face.
13. The wand of claim 9, wherein the wand is positioned to capture a sequence of images of a patient’s face, wherein the sequence of images are processed to generate a three-dimensional image of the patient’s face.
14. The wand of claim 13, wherein the generated three-dimensional image of the patient’s face are combined with at least one of X-ray imagery, dental impression, and intra-oral imagery, to generate a rotatable three-dimensional model of the patient’s face with an embedded three-dimensional model of the patient’s teeth.
15. The wand of claim 1, wherein the intra-oral imaging device is a first camera, and the second device is a second camera for capturing images of the patient’s face, the wand further comprising:
a light emitting diode (LED) curing light for hardening sealants;
a microphone for capturing oral instructions of a patient or a dental practitioner;
an ultrasound device to capture ultrasound imagery of the patient’s oral cavity;
a laser emitter device that generates photoacoustic waves greater than 1200 nanometers in wavelength to turbulently clean interiors of root and lateral canal systems or cause cell lysis and dissolution of inorganics in biotic systems; and
a high-energy light emitting device for detecting caries.
16. An intra-oral imaging system, comprising:
a processor;
a wand capable of transmitting data to the processor of intra-oral imaging system, the wand comprising:
a housing;
a first device coupled to the housing, wherein the first device is an intra-oral imaging device for capturing images of a patient’s teeth; and
a second device coupled to the housing to provide an additional function.
17. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 16, wherein the second device is a second camera for capturing images of the patient’s face.
18. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 16, wherein the second device is a light emitting diode (LED) curing light for hardening sealants.
19. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 18, wherein the LED curing light is positioned to emit light through a tip of wand, wherein a curing light control is positioned on a handle of the wand, and wherein the curing light control controls operation of the LED curing light.
20. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 16, wherein the second device is a microphone for capturing oral instructions of a patient or a dental practitioner.
21. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 16, wherein the second device is an ultrasound device to capture ultrasound imagery of the patient’s oral cavity.
22. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 16, wherein the second device is a laser emitter device that generates photoacoustic waves greater than 1200 nanometers in wavelength to turbulently clean interiors of root and lateral canal systems or cause cell lysis and dissolution of inorganics in biotic systems.
23. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 16, wherein the second device is a high-energy light emitting device for detecting caries.
24. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 16, wherein the intra-oral imaging device is a first camera, and the second device is a second camera for capturing images of the patient’s face, the wand further comprising:
a tip, wherein the first camera for capturing the images of the patient’s teeth is positioned to image through the tip; and
a handle for holding the wand, wherein the second camera for capturing the images of the patient’s face is positioned on the handle.
25. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 24, the wand further comprising:
a camera control positioned on the handle, wherein the camera, control controls operation of the second camera.
26. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 25, wherein the second camera is a least one of a still camera, and a video camera.
27. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 24, wherein the wand is positioned to capture a sequence of images of a patient’s face, wherein the sequence of images are processed to generate a two-dimensional image of the patient’s face.
28. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 24, wherein the wand is positioned to capture a sequence of images of a patient’s face, wherein the sequence of images are processed to generate a three-dimensional image of the patient’s face.
29. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 28, wherein the generated three-dimensional image of the patient’s face are combined with at least one of X-ray imagery, dental impression, and intra-oral imagery, to generate a rotatable three-dimensional model of the patient’s face with an embedded three-dimensional model of the patient’s teeth.
30. The intra-oral imaging system of claim 16, wherein the intra-oral imaging device is a first camera, and the second device is a second camera for capturing images of the patient’s face, the wand further comprising;
a light emitting diode (LED) curing light for hardening sealants;
a microphone for capturing oral instructions of a patient or a dental practitioner;
an ultrasound device to capture ultrasound imagery of the patient’s oral cavity;
a laser emitter device that generates photoacoustic waves greater than 1200 nanometers in wavelength to turbulently clean interiors of root and lateral canal systems or cause cell lysis and dissolution of inorganics in biotic systems; and
a high-energy light emitting device for detecting caries.
31. A method, comprising:
capturing images of a patient’s teeth via a first device comprising an intra-oral imaging device, wherein the intra-oral imaging device is located on a wand coupled to an intra-oral imaging system; and
performing additional functions via a second device located on the wand.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the second device is a second camera for capturing images of the patient’s face.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein the second device is a light emitting diode (LED) curing light for hardening sealants.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the LED curing light is positioned to emit light through a tip of wand, wherein a curing light control is positioned on a handle of the wand, and wherein the curing light control controls operation of the LED curing light.
35. The method of claim 31, wherein the second device is a microphone for capturing oral instructions of a patient or a dental practitioner.
36. The method of claim 31, wherein the second device is an ultrasound device to capture ultrasound imagery of the patient’s oral cavity.
37. The method of claim 31, wherein the second device is a laser emitter device that generates photoacoustic waves greater than 1200 nanometers in wavelength to turbulently clean interiors of root and lateral canal systems or cause cell lysis and dissolution of inorganics in biotic systems.
38. The method of claim 31, wherein the second device is a high-energy light emitting device for detecting caries.
39. The method of claim 31, wherein the intra-oral imaging device is a first camera, and the second device is a second camera for capturing images of the patient’s face, the wand further comprising:
a tip, wherein the first camera for capturing the images of the patient’s teeth is positioned to image through the tip; and
a handle for holding the wand, wherein the second camera for capturing the images of the patient’s face is positioned on the handle.
40. The method of claim 39, the wand further comprising:
a camera control positioned on the handle, wherein the camera, control controls operation of the second camera.
41. The method of claim 40, wherein the second camera is a least one of a still camera and a video camera.
42. The method of claim 39, the method further comprising:
positioning the wand to capture a sequence of images of a patient’s face; and
processing the sequence of images to generate a two-dimensional image of the patient’s face.
43. The method of claim 39, the method further comprising:
positioning the wand to capture a sequence of images of a patient’s face; and
processing the sequence of images to generate a three-dimensional image of the patient’s face.
44. The method of claim 43, the method further comprising:
combining the generated three-dimensional image of the patient’s face with at least one of X-ray imagery, dental impression, and intra-oral imagery, to generate a rotatable three-dimensional model of the patient’s face with an embedded three-dimensional model of the patient’s teeth.
45. The method of claim 31, wherein the intra-oral imaging device is a first camera, and the second device is a second camera for capturing images of the patient’s face, the wand further comprising:
a light emitting diode (LED) curing light for hardening sealants;
a microphone for capturing oral instructions of a patient or a dental practitioner;
an ultrasound device to capture ultrasound imagery of the patient’s oral cavity;
a laser emitter device that generates photoacoustic waves greater than 1200 nanometers in wavelength to turbulently clean interiors of root and lateral canal systems or cause cell lysis and dissolution of inorganics in biotic systems; and
a high-energy light emitting device for detecting caries.
46. A computer readable storage medium wherein code embodied in the computer readable storage medium when executed by a processor performs operations in an intra-oral imaging system, the operations comprising:
capturing images of a patient’s teeth via a first device comprising an intra-oral imaging device, wherein the intra-oral imaging device is located on a wand coupled to an intra-oral imaging system; and
performing additional functions via a second device located on the wand.
47. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the second device is a second camera for capturing images of the patient’s face.
48. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the second device is a light emitting diode (LED) curing light for hardening sealants.
49. The computer readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the LED curing light is positioned to emit light through a tip of wand, wherein a curing light control is positioned on a handle of the wand, and wherein the curing light control controls operation of the LED curing light.
50. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the second device is a microphone for capturing oral instructions of a patient or a dental practitioner.
51. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the second device is an ultrasound device to capture ultrasound imagery of the patient’s oral cavity.
52. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the second device is a laser emitter device that generates photoacoustic waves greater than 1200 nanometers in wavelength to turbulentry clean interiors of root and lateral canal systems or cause cell lysis and dissolution of inorganics in biotic systems.
53. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the second device is a high-energy light emitting device for detecting caries.
54. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the intra-oral imaging device is a first camera, and the second device is a second camera for capturing images of the patient’s face, the wand further comprising:
a tip, wherein the first camera for capturing the images of the patient’s teeth is positioned to image through the tip; and
a handle for holding the wand, wherein the second camera for capturing the images of the patient’s face is positioned on the handle.
55. The computer readable storage medium of claim 54, the wand further comprising:
a camera control positioned on the handle, wherein the camera control controls operation of the second camera.
56. The computer readable storage medium of claim 55, wherein the second camera is a least one of a still camera and a video camera.
57. The computer readable storage medium of claim 54, the operations further comprising:
positioning the wand to capture a sequence of images of a patient’s face; and
processing the sequence of images to generate a two-dimensional image of the patient’s face.
58. The computer readable storage medium of claim 54, the operations farther comprising:
positioning the wand to capture a sequence of images of a patient’s face; and
processing the sequence of images to generate a three-dimensional image of the patient’s face.
59. The computer readable storage medium of claim 58, the operations further comprising:
combining the generated three-dimensional image of the patient’s face with at least one of X-ray imagery, dental impression, and intra-oral imagery, to generate a rotatable three-dimensional model of the patient’s face with an embedded three-dimensional model of the patient’s teeth.
60. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the intra-oral imaging device is a first camera, and the second device is a second camera for capturing images of the patient’s face, the wand further comprising:
a light emitting diode (LED) curing light for hardening sealants;
a microphone for capturing oral instructions of a patient or a dental practitioner;
an ultrasound device to capture ultrasound imagery of the patient’s oral cavity;
a laser emitter device that generates photoacoustic waves greater than 1200 nanometers in wavelength to turbulently clean interiors of root and lateral canal systems or cause cell lysis and dissolution of inorganics in biotic systems; and
a high-energy light emitting device for detecting caries.